Way or track.



FERCY B. SULLIVAN, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

WAY @FI TWMGM..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1'?, 1905.

Application filed August 18, 1904.' Serial llc. 221,278.

T9 all whom, ift 771,517/ cm1/cern:

Be it known that l, Pintor B. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I/Vays or Tracks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Ths invention relates to an improved way or track designed particularly for motor-cars or automobiles and it is embodied. in the construction and arrangement of parts presently to be described, and. defined in the claims.

At the present time motor-vehicles, such as automobiles, are used to some extent as busses or conveyances for transporting a considerable number of passengers over regular routes. Such service, however, is limited to cities or towns where there are paved or macadamized roads or streets. For interurban traffic or service the use of such. motor-vehicles has been largely unsuccessful, owing to the condition of the roads. My invention is designed to constitute largely a continuation of 'the regularly-paved streets, so that the automobile service can be successfully con tinued into and through the suburbs. lnconnection with such a proposition manifestly the question of expense is of vital importance. l therefore aim to produce a way for the purposes indicated which will be comparatively inexpensive in construction, but which will serve well the purposes intended.

Briefly stated, my invention comprehends two relatively narrow tracks spaced a regular distance apart and. associated therewith a guiding rail or rails, so that an automatic guiding attachment for an automobile can be used in connection with the way'1 and thereby insure the machine continuing on the way at proper speed, and so notwithstanding the comparatively narrow width of the tracks or way.

ln the accompanying drawings l have shown an embodiment of the invention and a modified form thereof but it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out with different construction.

Figure l in the drawings represents a plan of a section of the way. Fig. 2 is a crosssec tion through the track portion, and Fig. 3 a section through the track portion of a modified form.

In the application of the invention it is intended generally to apply the track or way I i I I l across :fields or land rather than utilizing regular roads, and for that reason the invention can be more successfully used and operated, and in that respect the way or track will be largely permanent and .not subject to impairment by regular wagons or vehicles traveling thereon.

Starting from the boundary of the paved. street l proceed and construct a track consisting of two supporting-rails A, made of concrete conveniently and preferably; but any other composite material or materials can. be employed. These concrete rails ar e flat on their upper faces and are parallel with each other, the distance from centers being substantially the usual gage of a road-vehicle or automobile. On the outer edges of each rail is a guiding-flange B of relatively small diameter in that these flanges are not designed to prevent the vehicle from escaping from the rails, but rather are designed. as fixed or stationary guides, with which an automatic steering-arm contacts. Such an automatic steering device is shown in my application for United States Letters Paten tliled of even date herewith. ln connection with these flanges B it should be understood that the modern motor-vehicle is equipped with rubber tires and that therefore the track having such flanges could not be used as the ordinary 'flangedrail type of traction.-roads in that the rubber coming in contact with the flanges would soon be impaired or would soon destroy the Hanges l therefore designated this way or track as a flat-rail track having a guide rather than a retaining means, and so with a view of distinguishing the construction from the wellknown type of flanged traction-rail. At in tervals l provide turnout-platforms, as C, consisting of concrete or other suitable paving material, which is flangeless orwithout guides and which extends transversely in op posite directions, on which the vehicle can be turned or switched out to allow the passage of vehicles movingin an opposite direction. At the terminals of the flanges B at the turn outs curved portions D are formed, so that the operator in steering the vehicle by hand at the turnout can readily direct the same back onto the way or track.

ln Fig. 3 a modification is shown wherein the guide is located centrally between the two rails, the guiding-wheel E being shown as riding on the guide F.

lt will be observed that a way of the character above described can very readily and at IOO IIO

small cost be constructed of concrete, brickwork, or other paving material and that ample surface will be afforded for the passage of the vehicle, While the guide serves to retain the vehicle in place, thus avoiding the necessity of wide pavements through sections of country which would not ustify the outlay for such pavement.

I am aware, of course, that regular roads have been made with flat metal tracks or tracks of other character on which regular wagons are run,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is*- 1. In a way or track for automobiles, a rail having a fiat surface and a guide adjacent thereto, in combination with a transversely-arranged turnout consisting of a guideless platform connecting with the end of said rail.

2. In a way or track for automobiles, two rails spaced apart and having flat surfaces, a guide adjacent said rails and a turnout consisting of a guideless platform, adjoining the respective ends of said rails.

3. In a track or way for automobiles the combination with two rails of paving material spaced apart and having tread-surfaces on their upper faces and guide-flanges at their outer edges, said guide-flanges having outwardly-turned ends, and a turnout-platform having an unobstructed upper surface communicating with said outWardly-tiuned ends of the flanges.

4. In a track or way for automobiles, the combination with two rails of paving material spaced apart and having tread-surfaces on their upper faces and guide-flanges at their outer edges, and paved turnouts at intervals in the way, adjoining the respective ends of said rails.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PERCY B. SULLIVAN.

IVitnesses:

HUGH CREA, HUGH WV. HoUsUM. 

